Apparatus for and method of treating oil



Jan 8, 1929.

INVENTOR. S 0

A TTORNEY.

1+ T lIll E. S. PEARCE APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF TREATING OIL Filed Feb. 10, 1925 36 Pl/R/F/ED 0/1.

fiECE/V/IVG mwr i gt llllllll Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

l,698,273 PATENT orncu.

EDWIN S. PEARCE, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF TREATING OIL.

Application filed February 10, 1925. Serial No. 8,121.

For the purpose of lubricating the journals of the axles of railway cars (either steam or electric) waste consisting of waste cotton, wool 0r other suitable fibrous. materials is saturated With oil and placed in the journal boxes wherein it contacts with the j ournals in known manner.

It is necessary in practice that the oil em-- ployed shall be clean and free from dirt, (the heavier greases, water or other impurities. This is true whether the oil be fresh and never before used or whether it be oil which has been extracted from waste for re-use.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel method for the treatment of 1 oils which are adapted for the lubrication of the journals of car axles, as well "as other journals and bearings, whereby theoil may be thoroughly cleansed of foreign substances, such as dirt, carbon, heavier greases water, and the like.

It is also an object of the invention to provide-a novel method for the purposestated which may be practiced or carried on 'contin--- uously and which operates automatically to separate the oil from such impurities as those mentioned.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel method of the character indicated wherein certam of the heavier impurities are removed progresslvely from theoil as it flows upwardly within the container and wherein other substances, such as water, are

vaporized and caused to travelbeyond the body of the oil and to be discharged from the container at a higher point than that from which the oil is discharged.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel constructionof apparatus comprising means whereby oil may be treated to free the same automatically from impurities,-

such as dirt, relativelyv heavy greases and 'water. 4

It is also an object of the invention to pro-' vide an apparatusof the character indicated provided with means whereby the heavierimpurities, such as dirt and grease, are retained within the body of the container while the lighter vaporizable materials are discharged from the upper portion thereof, the purified oil in the meantime being discharged from an intermediate ,portion of'the container.

To these and other ends which will hereinafter be indicated the invention consists in the novel steps which will be described in- .de-

tail and particularly pointed out in the claims and also in the combination and ar rangement of the parts of the apparatus as hereinafter described and claimed.

'In order that the inventionmay be more readily understood reference may be had-to; the accompanying drawing in which I have shown a novel construction of apparatus by.

the employment of which the method constit'utlng one part of my invention may be practlced. It is to be understood, however, that changes in the construction of the apparatus may be made within the scope ofothe claims 7 Without departing from the said invention.

In the drawing: i

Fig. 1 is a view'partly in side elevation and partlyin vertical section of an apparatus embodyi'ngmy invention and by'the use of which the method may be carried out or practiced;

Fig, 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse horizontal section taken on the lines 3-3 of Figs. 1 and 2, the substantially vertical exteriorly located pipes shown in said figures being omitted. f

Referring to'the drawing:

1 designates legs or posts upon which the treating tank 2and'the receiving tank or receptacle 3 are supported. The oil to be treatpermit its flow through a screen 7 which extends across the openmg 4.

The. oil is delivered from the tank 6 and conveyed to the bottom of the tank or receptacle 2 by apipe 10, the upper endof which terminates within the tank 6 adjacent the bottom thereof. The passage orv flow of the oil through the pipe. 10 is controlled and regulated by a valve at 11.

The oil treating or purifying tank 2 is provided with; a series of crosswise extending baffle plates 15. These plates are inclined, as f clearly indicated in Fig.2 of the drawings;

that is, each plate slopes from one side of the receptacle to the opposite side. The first of these. plates is located a considerable distance from the bottom of the tankand the lower' edge thereof is located a short distance from the adjacent wallto forma narrow passageway16. w W

The opposite edge of the next plate is likewise located a distance from the adjacent in place by pins 18 beyond the upper surfaces of the said plates The position at wall also to form a narrow passageway 16 and so on alternately up to and including the uppermost plate. It will be noted that the openin s 16 are located at the lowermost edge the respective plates so that the oil which is being treated flows upwardly back and forth over the said plates.

Each of the plates is providedwith crosswise extending rifile bars 17 which are held which extend upwardly and into openings in said bars. The presence of these bars operates to retard and to interrupt the passage or flow of materials of greater specific gravity than the oil, such as dirt, grit, and the like, and to aid in causing the same to lodge upon the upper sides of the said plates. During the upward flow of the oil back and forth around the plates the heavier greases are deposited upon and adhere to the under'sides of said plates.

For the purpose of facilitating the upward flow of the oils and greases through the tank 2 back and forth between and over the plates 15 I have provided a coil 20 in the bottom of said tank, underneath the lowermost of said plates, which is adapted to be heated by steam passing therethrough. The heat from the steam is sufiicient to render the oil quite gluig, the'heavier greases being somewhat less The used lubricating oil to be treated is delivered into the tank 2 at a rate and in a quantity sufficient to maintain the top level thereof in the tank 2 at such distance above an outlet opening as may be necessary in practice to produce or effect the best results. which the top level of the oil in the tank should be maintained will depend upon the percentage of water or other vaporizable impurity or impurities which may be present within the oil. If the percentage is relatively small the top level will have to occupy a higher plane within the tank than if the percentage be greater. The reason for this will be explained later on.

The purified oil outlet opening 25 is located a short distance above the uppermost of the bafile plates.15 and below the top level of the oil. The oil which is discharged I through said opening is conveyed by a pipe 26 into the clean oil receiving tank or receptacle 3. The flow of the oil through the inclined pipe 26 is controlled by a valve at 27-.

To facilitate the outflow of the oil through the opening 25 I have provided a lip 28 which extends downwardly from said openin a shorttdistance into the tank 2.

The water which may be present in the oil as an impurity is converted by the heat from the steam in the pipe Q20 into steam which travels upwardly with the oil back and forth around the plates 15. In separating from the top of the oil in the u per portion of the tank 2 it carries with it fiiie particles or globules may pass from 33. The upper end of the pipe 33 communr' openings,

of the oil which are surrounded thereby. The steam and the globules or particles of oil form af-roth which flows upwardly and gathers as a mass in the tank above the top of the oil. In its upward flow it comes into contact with the tapered sides 30 at the upper end of the tank and is reducedin volume so that the bubbles are broken. The steam escapes through the vent 31 and such liquid asmay be present, either oil or water, is discharged-through an opening 32 and flows downwardly through a discharge pipe 33 and is delivered from the lower end thereof into any suitable receptacle.

The mixture of oil and water collected in such receptacle may be returned to the tank or receptacle 6 and subjected to re-treatment along with other oils to be treated.

A downwardly extending pipe 33 is also provided between the tank 2 and the-pipe 33 through which some portions of the froth the said tank 2 into the pipe cates with the tank 2 a short distance below and in adjacent relation to the lower edge of the tapered portion 30 of thetank. The pipe 33, however, is not essential to my invention, but may be employed if desired.

In the practicing of the method it is necessary that the level of the oil within the tank 2 be maintained at a height corresponding to the amount of water impurity within the oil so that the volume of froth produced shall be sufficient to fill the space in the tank above the top of the oil. This is necessary in order to'cause the froth to be forced against the upwardly tapering portion 30 of the "tank whereby the bubbles are ruptured to release the particles of oil which flow out through the the top of the oil were maintained at a level at such distance below the top of the tank 2 that the space above the oil would be too great to be filled by the froth some impurities such as finely'dividedparticles of carbon and water would settle down and work back into the oil and thereby prevent the complete cleansing of the oil and thus defeat the purpose of the invention.

For the purpose of affording means whereby the dirt, grit and grease may be removed from between the plates 15 I have provided as indicated at 34,0f a size sufficient to permit the insertion of the hand into the tank between the said plates for cleaning the opposing top and bottom sides there of. These openings 34 are closed by means of screw-threaded plugs, 35. To enable the cleansing of the bottom ofthe tank 2 I have provided an by a plug 36 of a size sufficient to permit access to the interior of the bottom portion of said tank.

For the purpose of maintaining the clean opening closed which the impurities present in lubricating oils may be separated and eliminated therefrom in a most expeditious and economic manner; and it 'will also be seen that the method may be operated continuously whereby economy of operation is greatly enhanced.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for treating used lubricating oil to clean the same, comprising a treating tank, baflie plates in said tank extending transversely thereof between one edge of' each of which and the adjacent wall there is a passageway, the upper end of said tank terminating in a tapered portion having outlet openings one'of which is locatedinside of the said tapered portion, and means for removing the clean oil from said tank.

2. In apparatus for treating used lubricating oil to clean the same, the combination of a treating tank having baffle plates extend- 'ing transversely thereof between 011-e edge of each of which and the adjacent wall there is a passageway, the upper end of said tank terminating in a tapered portion having an opening from which a discharge pipe leads,

a tank'for receiving the clean oil from the said treating'tank and a pipe connected at one end tothe said treating tank at a point intermediate its ends andat its other end to the said clean oil receiving tank.

3. .In an'apparatusfor treatin used lubrieating oil to cleanse the same, tie combination of an oil treating tank having means interiorlyvt-hereof for removing therefrom materials of greater specific gravity than the oil and having means at its upper end for permitting the escape of froth which gathers above the top level of the oil in the tank and for discharging some oil and impurities therefrom, means for delivering the untreated oil continuously into the bottom of said treating tank, "means for heating the said oil to render the same more fluid and to vaporizeany water whichmay be present, a --tank for receiving clean oil from the said' treating tank and a conduit having connection at one end to the treating tank at a point intermediate its ends and at its op osite end to the said clean oil receiving tank.

1. In apparatus for treating used lubricating oil to clean the same, the combination of a treating tank having bafile plates supported which may be present therein.

interiorly thereof and extending transversely across the same forming passageways between one edge of each of said baffle plates and the adjacent wall of said tank and the said tankterminating at its upper end in a tapered portion, the top of which is vented,

and also having an opening in the side of said tapered portion and a pipe leading-from said opening and extending downwardly, a tank for the reception of untreated oil, a conduit leading to the bottom of said treat-- ing tank, means for controlling the. passage of untreated oil through said conduit,a coil of pipe in the bottomof said treating tank for receiving a heating fluid to heat the said oil and to vaporize any water which may be present therein, a clean oil receiving tank located in adjacent relation to the said treating tank, and a Fpipe leading from an intermediate portion of the said treating tank to the clean oil receiving tank.

5. In apparatus for treating used lubricating oil, the combination of a treating tank having inclined baflle plates mounted therein, adjacent baffle plates being inclined in opposite directions and each being provided upon its top side with riflie bars which extend across the same in parallel relation to'the upper and lower edges thereof, means for supplying oil to be treated as desired to, the bottom of said treating tank, means for heating the oil in the bottomof said tank to render the same more fluid and to vaporize any water which may be present, means for permitting the froth which may form above the top level of the'oil to escape from the top portion' ofvsaid tank, a clean oil receiving tank, and a valve controlled conduit having connection at one end to an intermediate. portion of the treating tank and at its opposite end to the clean oil receivingtank.

6. 'An apparatus for" treating used lubrieating oil comprising anoil treating tank having baflle' plates supported in spaced relation to each other inte'riorly thereof and intermediate its opposite ends, around which the oil in its upward flow must pass, which tank terminates at its upper end in a contracted portion having a vented top and having an opening in its side, a pipe communicating with said opening and extending downwardly therefrom, and means in the bottom of the tankfor heating the oil therein to render it more fluid and to vaporize any water 7. An apparatus for treating used lubricating oil comprising an oil treating tank having a plurality .of battle plates extending transverselythereof; the adjacent plates being inclined in opposite directions and each of said plates bein upon its top side in parallel relation to opposite edges thereof and the upper end of said tank terminating in an upwardly tapered portion, the upper end of whichis vented,

provided with riflie bars prises the introducing one bottom portion introducing of the same continuously into a tank and causing it to flow'upwardly therein, applyin heat thereto in the lower end of said tan separating the impurities from the oil at different points in the tank as the said oil flows therethrough and retaining the said impurities at the points of separation, and thereafter withdrawing the cleaned oil from the said tank. P

9. The method of treating used lubricating oil for cleaning the same, which comthereof continuo'usly into the bottom of a tank and causing it to flow upwardly therein, applying heat to the of the oil in said tank to ren- Vder the same more fluid and to vaporize the water which may be present therein, separating the heavier impurities from the oil at intermediate points in the'said tank as it flows upwardly therein and retaining them at, such intermediate points, removing the froth which forms above the level of the oil in said tank, and removing the cleaned oil from an intermediate portion of the said" tank. A

10, The method of treating used journal lubricating oil to clean the same which consists in introducing the same into the bottom of a tank, applying heat tovthe oil in the bot- .tom of said tank to increase the fluidity of the same andto vaporize any water which may be present therein and form a oil to fiowupwardly in said tank, separating thematerialsof greater specific gravity than the oil from the oil at intermediate points in the tank as it flows upwardly therein and retaining them atsuch points, controlling the position of thetop level of the oil in the tank,

removing the froth formed above the top which comprises froth, causing the level of the oil from the upper end portion of said tank, and withdrawin the oil from an intermediate portion of said tank.

11. The method of treating used lubricating oil for-cleansing the same which comprises the introduction of the oil into the lower part of a tank, applying heat to the oil within the tank to render the same more fluid and to vaporize the water which may be present therein, causing an upward flow of the oil and water vapor within the tank, the said water vapor enveloping particles of the oil and passing beyondthe toplevel of the oil in the tank to form a mass of froth-above the oil, reducing the volume of the upper portion of the said-froth by causing an inward flow thereof, causing the water vapor to escape in one direction and the liquid released by the bursting of the bubbles in another direction, removing ,other impurities from the oil as it flows upwardly in the tank, and thereafter removing the cleansed oil from the tank.

'. 12. The method of treating used lubricating oil to remove therefrom impurities including water, dirt, grit, greases, and carbon, the introducing of oil) with the impurities therein into the lower part of a tank, vaporizing such water as may be prescut and causing the water vapor thus formed and other impurities in admixture withthe oil to flow upwardly within saidtank, re-

moving impurities other than water from the oil as it flows upwardly within said tank,

controlling the height of the oil within the I tank, forming a mass of froth above the top of the oil in the tank consisting of water vapor and water vapor bubbles surrounding particles of oil, reducing the volume of the upperportion of the sa d mass of froth by causing an inward flow thereof, and causing the vapor to escape in one direction and the froth with "impurities to escape in another direction.

In testimonythat I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereunto signed my name this 6th day of February. A. D., 1925.

EDWIN S. PEARCE. 

